Apparatus for measuring temperatures



239 393%. p, s, WlLLlAMs APPARATUS FOR MEASURING TEMPERATURES Filed July 9, 1935 INVENTOR, ,0/7//40 j. WM//Iamf ATTORNE Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MEASURING TEMPERATURES This invention relates to an improvement in that apparatus disclosed in application Serial No. l629,172 filed August 17, 1932.

I'he apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid patent has enabled marked improvement to be secured in the taking of temperatures in containers, particular'ly petroleum containing' tanks. While that apparatus was successful from an operating' standpoint, the present apparatus is simpler, thus being cheaper to manufacture, while its closing sensitivity is much greater and more nearly unifor'in in all mediums. The present apparatus is not mechanically Vcomplicated and does not require the observation of close tolerances.

It is the broad object of the present invention to' provide a simplified and improved temperature thief which can be readily manufactured at low cost.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein I have disclosed a preferred form of the apparatus of my invention.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof I have disclosed a present preferred construction. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications thereof can readily be made without departure from the Vspirit of my invention within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in transverse section, illustrating the preferred construction.

Figures 2 through 5 inclusive are sectional views taken along the corresponding indicated section line in Figure 1.

Figures 6, 7 are respectively fragmentary vertical and horizontal sections taken through a modified form of apparatus, Figure 7 being on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 5, I provide a shell I I. This is preferably made of bakelite or some other material having a relatively poor heat conductivity so that little alteration can take place in the temperature of a body of liquid trapped within the shell. Closure means for the shell is provided. This means usually includes an inlet closure I2 and an outlet closure I3, although the outlet closure can be omitted in case a non-volatile liquid is being handled. The inlet and outlet closures I2 and I3 are joined together by several spaced rods I4, screws I 6 and a nut I 1. The shell II is movable relative to the closure means between the full line position shown in Figure 1 and the dotted line position wherein the inlet and outlet are open and iiuid can circulate freely through the shell I I.

To guide the shell II during its movement I preferably include projection I8 on the side of. the shell to cooperate with the spaced rods I 4. A 5 plate I 9 includes three upstanding arms 2| which guide the shell during movement to insure that the shell returns to its seating position and yet permit fluid to flow through. Between the plate I9 and the closure I2 is positioned a disc 22 of a 10 suitable resilient material cooperating with the shell to provide a suitable seating surface for shell II so that the container is fluid tight. 'I'he plate I9 acts as a shroud to retain the disc 22 in position. l5

Means for ascertaining the temperature within the container is also preferably provided. This means is shown as a thermometer 23 having a temperature responsive element 24 within the container. The thermometer is carried in ametal 20 tube 26, the tube being cut away so that the thermometer can be read. The thermometer is preferably inserted through the top of the tube and a cap 21 is then screwed on to retain the thermometer in position. The cap 21 is provided with an eye 28 to which a cord or chain or other suspending means is attached to permit the apparatus to be raised and lowered in a container. The tube 26 is screwed into a threaded member 29 carried by the closure I3, a lock nut 3| 30 being provided on the tube to retain the two in position.

Means is provided for maintaining the Ashell in either an open position or a closed position relative to the closure means. This means is prefer- 35 ably a plurality of toggle springs 32 extended between member 29 and projections 33 on shell II. As appears in Figure 2, these springs are received in slots in member 29 and extend therefrom to rest upon the projection 33 carried by the shell. 40 The toggle springs are positive in action, hence the name and proper application of the word toggle to them. The shell is maintained positively by the toggle springs in either the dotted line open position or in the full line closed posi- 45 tio-n in Figure l. With the device in use, the shell is raised to the open position indicated by the dotted line and the apparatus is lowered into a tank. When the desired level is reached, the apparatus is raised up and down slowly to pump fluid through the shell and insure that temperature equilibrium of the iiuid in the container is established. Thereafter, upon a jerk upon the suspending vmeans attached to the cap 21, the inertia of the shell brings it down past the null or 2'/ ,and

6 and '7 it is to be noted that a member 4| is are embedded in shell H.

Vmounted upon tube 26 and is held against member 29 by a lock nut 42. This member includes a plurality of projections 43 While projections 44 Three coiled springs 46 are extended between the projections 43 and 44 and act in the same manner as the iiat springs What is claimed is,

1. In an apparatus for temperature determination including a thermometer having a temperature responsive element, the apparatus including a shell having a iiuid inlet and an outlet and into which said element extends, closure means for said inlet movable relative to said shell between an open and a closed position, and a spring extended operatively between said closure means 'and said shell and deformable between a position in which said spring maintains said closure means in an open position and another position in which said closure means is held in a closed position. Y

2. n an apparatus for temperature determination including a thermometer having a temperature responsive element, the apparatus including a shell having a fluid inlet and an outlet and into which said element extends, closureV means for said inlet and said outlet movable relative to said shell between an open and a closed posiv tion, and a spring extended operatively between said closure means and said shell and deformable between a position in which said spring maintainsk said closure means in an open position Vand another position in which said closure means is held in a closed position.

3. In an apparatus for temperature determination includingV a thermometer having a temperature responsive element, the apparatus including a shell having a uid inlet and an outlet and into which said element extends, closure means for said inlet movable relative to Vsaid shell between an open and a closed position, means for suspending said apparatus, and a spring extended operatively between said closure means and said shell and deformable yupon a jerk on said suspending means to move from a position in which said spring maintains said closure means in an open position to another position in which said closure means is held in a closed position.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a rst member, a second member,V means securing said members together in an overlying but spaced relation, a shell positioned about said Vmembers and said means and cooperating therewith to provide a container opened and closed by relative movement of said shell to said members Vand f said means, and a toggle spring operatively Ven- Vmometer shell to said second member, and a toggle spring operatively engaged on said thermometer securing meansV and on saidfshell to maintain said shell in either a container open Y Yor a container closed position.l

PHILIP s'. WILLIAMS. 

